THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) – An appeals court on Monday ordered the Dutch government to halt exports of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel, citing a clear risk of violating international law.
Three human rights groups filed a civil lawsuit against the Netherlands in December, arguing that authorities needed to reevaluate export licenses in light of Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip.
“It cannot be denied that there is a clear risk that exported F-35 parts will be used in serious violations of international humanitarian law,” Judge Bas Boele said as he read out the judgment, to cheers from several members of the court. has risen.
Exports must be stopped within 7 days.
The decision came as Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte visited Israel and met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the conflict. Prime Minister Rutte will also hold separate talks with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh.
Lead attorney Liesbeth Zegfeldt told reporters after the hearing, “I’m very grateful that there was justice and that the court was willing to speak out about justice.”
Netherlands to decide whether to block F-35 parts exports to Israel https://t.co/ATZtNQ5ICN
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) December 15, 2023
Oxfam Noviv, Pax Nederland and Rights Forum filed the lawsuit in December. They argued that the continued transfer of aircraft parts would make the Netherlands complicit in possible war crimes committed by Israel in its war with Hamas.
In January, a lower court sided with the government, allowing the Netherlands to continue shipping U.S.-owned parts stored in a warehouse in the town of Wensdrecht to Israel. The Netherlands is home to one of her three F-35 regional warehouses in Europe.
Other countries are also considering restricting arms sales to Israel. British human rights groups have filed similar lawsuits to try to block arms exports to Israel.
In the United States, Senate Democrats are pushing a bill that would require President Joe Biden to approve Congressional approval before giving the green light to arms sales to Israel.
Late last month, the United Nations Supreme Court ordered Israel to do everything in its power to stop acts of death, destruction and genocide in the Gaza Strip. The decision was made after an appeal hearing in the Dutch case, but the group’s lawyers said the judges were likely considering a legally binding order from the International Court of Justice.
The decision leaves room for Dutch authorities to export aircraft parts used in operations outside Gaza.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was reviewing the decision. The government has eight weeks to appeal, but the export ban will remain in place.
